AbstractThe acknowledgments and credits for Indigenous communities have been disregarded by colonial reasoning, leaving origins of creations eliminated. The Mayans provided wonderful insight into belief systems and mathematical systems which continue to be used in modern-day society. At the start of the fifth century, Mayan mathematics was established to compute calculations to understand the civilizations' social constructs. Grasping mathematics curricula from historical, Mayan standpoints opens space for crediting culture discovery of mathematics in contemporary developmental agencies. Within my paper, I explore anthropological perspectives evolved into epistemological concepts, allowing man to progress and succeed.
AbstractIn 2018, Roxana Hernandez, a 33-year-old trans woman from Honduras arrived at the U.S. border seeking asylum. Back home in Honduras, she was known as the hardest working family member, a loving sister and tía. Every morning she’d wake up to start making tortillas and beans to sell on the street from 6 in the morning to 8 at night. For a couple of months, she also engaged in survival sex work to make ends meet. However, no matter how hard she was working; it just wasn’t enough to support her and her family. She then made the life-risking decision, not once, but multiple times to migrate to the U.S. in hopes of opening up a salon and sending back money to her family. It was her last attempt when she arrived at the U.S./Mexico border and ended up in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention center. By Samantha Lomeli Artist StatementThe inspiration behind my poems are about the pain and loss I have experienced in my life. My poems don’t necessarily have a specific theme or message but rather express my feelings and emotions strongly. I hope that whoever comes across my work can either relate to it or understand my vulnerable side that most people do not get to see. Poetry has been able to help me put my emotions into words that have helped me heal. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I use poetry to help me work through what I am feeling.
artist statementI find it difficult to look at the history of colonialism and exploitation in the Western Hemisphere without paying attention to the internal experiences prompted by these overarching narratives. The anxieties that come with the erasure of culture necessitate a closer look into the mental implications of these afflictions in everyday life. With the world the way it is, it’s easy to close off and forget about everything that’s going on. This is why I choose to write about both the large and the small scale dilemmas to indicate their relations and how people from different backgrounds react to these issues.
AbstractAssimilating to another culture can be hard when people are used to their motherland’s traditions. Our societies have made it simply impossible for immigrants to live in the United States without the fear of deportation. My essay focuses on different obstacles such as the language barrier that people encounter in order to have a taste of the American dream. The movie Caracol Cruzando by Pamela Chavez focuses on how immigrants have to go through many barriers to live a better life. Our society has engraved fear upon immigrants when in reality they should be given a pathway to citizenship.
abstractCulture is a lifestyle amongst a group of people that include beliefs, a set of morals, food, dance, and even language. My paper unfolds the culture of the city I was born in. Morelos, Mexico is a small city filled with enriched culture that an individual, including myself, participates in. There are activities that culture plays a huge role on, such as eating Tacos Acorazados, a dish simply made with rice and boiled eggs. "The Land of Culture and Traditions" demonstrates a small piece of Morelos through visual words and explaining each activity that my culture participates in with writing. As each activity is thoroughly explained in my paper, a piece of my culture will be engraved in you knowing that culture is important to individuals who love where they come from.
AbstractAs first-generation citizens, there is this disconnection with our culture. There is a sense of pride and missing knowledge that causes this disconnection. When parents migrate to a new country, they begin to assimilate because life in Mexico is not the same as life in the U.S. Therefore, children from immigrant parents begin to identify more with their surrounding cultural environment. After attending the Guelaguetza festival, I learned about Oaxacan culture, which was a shock. I realize I do not connect with my own culture, unlike my parents or older siblings who were born in Mexico. I was introduced to a whole new world that feels like I am supposed to connect with, but I did not.
AbstractBeing an immigrant in a country that hates you for something that is completely out of your control is often something that creates a lonely environment for many individuals. It consists of catastrophic and disheartening stories yet somehow amidst all the tragedy lies an immense amount of beauty, one that not even the deadliest form of degradation can take away. That is, the power of peace and love towards an identity that is permanently attached to your individuality. Giovanni Batz and Anayansi Prado capture these experiences in an exquisite manner to which they illustrate the very struggles that immigrants often face once arriving in their adopted countries. I further relate their topics to Maid in America and “Expressions of Maya, Identity, and Culture in Los Angeles: Challenges and Success among Maya Youth,” and dissect the way these issues have commonly manifested themselves within the lives of many foreigners both in positive and negative matters.
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Lack of inclusivity and exclusion of Central American Afro-Latin(x)s and immigrant children are issues that a few scholars discuss through various academic forms. In hopes of reaching a broader audience using their creative minds, Pamela Chavez and Breena Nuñez, have used art to examine these issues regarding Afro-Latin(x)s and immigrant children. They present these issues through animation and comic books to show a glimpse into the lives of thousands of Afro-Latin(x)s and immigrant children, illustrating the issues of transnationalism and acceptance in identity. I discuss how artists like Chavez and Nuñez bring in representation to these groups, who are often overlooked and pushed aside, along with how it is necessary to discuss these inequities in order to bring change.
 Featuring the 2021 cover! These are some lilies that symbolize renewal and growth. Dear Readers,
The Central American and Transborder Studies at California State University, Northridge is delighted to introduce the 2021 edition of La Ceiba: The Undergraduate Journal of Central American and Transborder Studies. This edition will include a wide variety of original pieces that encompass a multidimensional aspect of the Central American experience. It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives and communities. This past year has been a challenge for everyone around the world as we have battled with loss, uncertainty, and despair. The pandemic does not define who we are despite the obstacles we have endured. Our communities continue to shine and rise in hopes of the future that lays ahead. It is now up to us to decide what comes next, and how we will move on from the various socio-political obstacles of the past year. We commemorate and embrace the unconditional support from our professor and mentor Susana Marcelo. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the editorial team for their dedication throughout this process. Thank you to the student contributors who provided their noteworthy and original work. Even during these hard times, everyone was willing to collaborate with each other to get this edition of the journal published. We hope that this journal gives people an understanding that there is not a universal Central American experience. La Ceiba’s 2021 edition expands beyond boundaries by presenting an array of creative work and contemplations of identity. This collection contains literary and poetic works that will serve fruitful for both students and the public. As the world begins to reopen, it is our cue to reclaim our hopes and dreams to establish a prosperous future for the generations that will come after us. On behalf of the editorial team at La Ceiba, we thank you for your support. Sincerely, La Ceiba Editorial Team  Featuring the 2020 cover! The plant is called myrica cerifera and it is a medicinal plant found throughout Central America. Dear Readers,
We are honored to launch La Ceiba: The Undergraduate Journal of Central American and Transborder Studies at California State University, Northridge. We are pleased to present the creative and intellectual work of students of Central American heritage, as well as those interested in producing scholarship focusing on the Isthmus. This year, we were filled with hope and a sense of renewal. We continued our community efforts in supporting our people. Then a month ago, we felt the blunt of the impact of the COVID-19 on our communities and our campus. Still, we pressed on. Still, we moved forward with the journal and continued to advocate for communities most impacted by the pandemic. Now, we are at the end of this journey but the resilience and fight for our communities continues. We are in awe of the generosity and work of our contributors. We wish them a joyful end of the semester and hope our efforts to celebrate their work are met with cheer by everyone who visits our website and social media pages. They deserve every moment of praise and appreciation. As we reflect on the unforeseen changes, we have overcome this spring semester, the Editorial Team is thankful for the guidance and support of Professor Susana Marcelo, our Creative Director. We are also proud of the collaboration between our editorial team and student contributors during the creation and editing process of this issue. In La Ceiba’s spring 2020 issue, you can find innovative and original works that explore transborder and creative topics on Central America. It is our hope that this publication serves as a medium to disseminate the knowledge taught in our department while promoting academic excellence and future research in the field. On behalf of the editorial team at La Ceiba, we thank you for your support. Sincerely, La Ceiba Editorial Team Abstract“Weird” literature is something new that I learned in my Central American Studies class. In the class, I was assigned to write a story with the same aesthetic as another author. I took inspiration from “Highway Without an Ox” by Claudia Hernandez, by providing unexpected reactions. In the story that I wrote, the reader would have expected the parents to call the police or do anything to protect their child from this stranger under his bed, but that was not the case. Instead they invited him downstairs to eat dinner.
AbstractThis paper examines the documentary Reparando by Scott Owen Moore and Voices Beyond the Wall by Brad Coley. The paper examines the detrimental effect of historical events, such as a Civil War can have on the countries of Guatemala and Honduras. I analyze how these documentaries showcase many of the social issues faced in these countries come from a Civil War and a history of colonization. It is important to know the negative effects that international countries have on Latin American countries. I argue that poetry, religion, and community building could all be outlets to redefine an environment and create a positive change. The people in these documentaries were able to use these outlets in order to heal and create a better environment. It highlights the importance of activism and resistance against the issues presented. I believe that different environments and certain life circumstances can be a problem because they create obstacles for people and deprive them of many resources in order to reach their full potential; however, with the help of community building and redefining their situation, they can achieve happiness.
abstractThis paper analysis of the book One Day of Life by Manlio Argueta showcases the social hierarchy present in El Salvador and allows those in power to create oppression and commit human rights violations against the people. The government used many tactics, such as violence, religion and fear, as a way to stop people from revolting. These tactics were used as a way to force civilians to conform and accept the lower position in hierarchy that they were given.I will explore the negative role the United States played in assisting the government of El Salvador during the Civil War. The U.S. enabled the government to commit horrific war crimes and human rights violations against its civilians. A close look at many details in, One Day of Life, reveals how there is a social hierarchy and an imbalance of power, which in turn impacts the problems people face in El Salvador; consequently, leading to the oppression that took place during the Civil War.
abstractIt is difficult to express how hard it is to adapt to a new place where you do not even know the language. However, regardless of all of this, one must not give up and should demonstrate to themselves how far they can go. Nevertheless, I enjoy creating poetry that depicts how I feel about everything that I have or had to go through.
AbstractOver millions of people from different countries around the world migrated to the U.S. for better opportunities or as an escape from the violence left due to past wars. These people face challenges by adjusting to a new environment and different societal expectations. With this transition into a new life comes the ongoing challenges they face with transnational identities. In my paper, I discuss how two transnational poets, Yesika Salgado and Javier Zamora, used their work in poetry to bring to light societal issues that many people with transnational identities face living in the U.S. through their own experiences in life and how they demonstrated the importance of representation in the work of literature for transnational poets. I also discuss cultural issues, like Marianismo and Machismo, that Salgado and Zamora feature in their work, which is seen as ‘inappropriate’ in the Latin(x) community.
AbstractSome men treat women horribly and some women treat women horribly as well. In my lifetime, growing up with my mother, I saw her get mistreated as if she wasn’t good enough. Having to grow up being around that negative energy made me very upset and angry with the world. The reason why it made me feel that way is because women are more than what society makes them seem. Women have the same power as men to be whatever they want, work in whatever job they want, and they have the power to be successful just like everyone else. Women shouldn’t be discouraged just because someone tells them they cannot be great in their life. Being a woman is a difficult, untold story, but when it’s told--it’s the most beautiful story.
AbstractOur society has portrayed a “perfect picture” of what they believe a relationship should consist of. Female’s in different cultures feel like their options are limited, due to the backlash they obtain from others. My essay focuses on the different literary devices addressed in, Corazón, to demonstrate how machismo still plays a huge role. The book is written by a Salvadoran author, Yesika Salgado, who makes poems about her love stories and the impact it had on her identity. No one should feel the need to seek others validation because no matter how much you change for a person you will never be enough.
AbstractEl Mozote was a small village in Central America and it was attacked by their own soldiers. The soldiers killed the people in the village and left their bodies there to rot until later were picked up by rescued family members. The women and kids were crying for their help. My poem is told through the eyes of a mother who is locked in her own home afraid of what might happen next and begging for mercy to let her children survive.
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The poem "The Marathon Continues" is really an inspiring poem. This is a poem that I relate to and not only just for me, but for everybody who is from Los Angeles, California. We may not have the same stories or the same background, but what we do know is is that we're from the same city. Everybody has their own story and background, but my story is a girl growing up in South Central, California with parents who are Central American and grew up struggling. My form of art started when I was young. I knew I was really creative because I had all these ideas in my head that I wanted to create. I wouldn't focus on just one thing. I like to play around with different things, but really I didn't get serious until my teenage years. Writing poetry was a form of expression mainly because that was how I could express myself as a teenager. As I got older and mature, I began writing about life challenges as an adult. That's were my inspiration came to play and not only that, but being Afro Latina. I wanted to educate people and hopefully I can be able to educate more people who can relate.
AbstractCentral America has been a region that has been affected by much turmoil; however, it’s easy to just blame wars and political conflict as causes. If we do that, it’s an incredible injustice to the people suffering due to an infinite number of factors they have no say in that include poverty, elitism, and systematic oppression. It is for this reason that the works of Honduran writer Roberto Sosa are so impactful. In the form of poems, he gives the reader an impression that there is something beyond the idea of war that causes problems for people. Given that, Honduras has been a country without much foreign conflict. Sosa shows how the lack of accountability, opportunity, and future is in fact creating Honduras’ biggest enemy, hopelessness. “The Missing Stairs” is a poem written about the Honduran children losing hope without even knowing it. He further explores how the system has let the newer generation down. In this essay, I will explore how the facts that Sosa presents in this poem, written in 1983, still have an impact in modern day, and support his critique with the truths Jesuit priest J. Guadalupe Carney was exposed to in Honduras.
AbstractLos Angeles, the City of Angels as many people would describe it. A city where dreams are meant to come true, where the fresh faces of diversity can be seen as you walk the streets at any time of the day. My city has been a huge inspiration for my art, the city where I was born and raised in. Despite the beauty we see from afar of the city of dreamers, many struggles can be found within the city as people try their hardest to push forward and live another day. My work demonstrates my perspective as I walk through my neighborhood and see the many struggles my people are facing on a daily basis. Poverty, racism, and homelessness are just the few struggles we face when living in a large city. I love to use animals to symbolize the hardships people face, as a way to bring me back to the animal kingdom and see how a wolf or a poisonous snake can signify what we see in the city. Los Angeles is a beautiful city with a deep, rich, and meaningful history and I use my community as my main motivation. I’ve experienced and witnessed the hardships and hope to shine a light brighter on my community to continue fighting our battles and remind us that we are capable of so much. To not get blinded by the immense beauty of the city but to spread awareness on the many issues people in Los Angeles deal with.
Abstract
Sporting events are not immediately associated with religion or politics, but the ancient ball game played across Mesoamerica changes this notion. My paper analyzes the various ways different cultures of Mesoamerica morphed the ball game to suit their needs: socially, politically and spiritually. For Mesoamericans, this ball game was tethered to the cosmos above, ultimately playing a hand in life and death. I use references made in the Mayan council book, “Popol Vuh”, to illustrate the religious aspects of the ball game and its impact on daily life. The ballcourts of Mesoamerica brought both entertainment and power to its players and believers.
AbstractI selected to write a poem because poetry stimulates our brain to feel emotion. I hoped that by writing a poem, my words would have an emotional impact to the reader and be remembered. I want readers to feel the pain and agony of the Salvadorian citizens who had to survive El Mozote massacre. My poem used literary devices such as rhyme scheme and pathos. "The Miracle Who Survives" is a poem about a child who is hiding away from the Salvadorian Army and is frightened that he would be the next victim. However, he is determined to be brave and create change for the state of the country.
AbstractTo gain knowledge of a civil war, one must take time to develop understanding of the cause and the different perspectives on it. One way to do this is by reviewing testimonials. My paper provides historical research and the value testimonials have by challengingthe narrative portrayed by the elite and serve as a form of resistance and activism. I focus on the exploration and surfacing the perspective of El Salvador’s civil war through the eyes of poor indigenous groups by forming the analysis based the formalistic and historical approach. The analysis of Civil War in El Salvador will consist of text, “Microbus to San Salvador,” by Manilo Arugeta, which tells the story of genocide in the Central American country which reveals deeper meaning of daily dangers of life in the region and the lethal consequences of telling a controversial story. My endeavor is to give value to testimonials as it relates to speaking up on real life experiences of being a target and unwanted on the land your ancestors walked on prior to colonization
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